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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Dorival Caymmi, Brazilian music pioneer, has died. The 94 year-old enjoyed a six-decade career, helping create and shape the bossa nova sound during the 1930s and 40s.

Like a surprising number of musical greats, Caymmi's first plan was to try and find work as a journalist, thereby reversing the claim that music journalists are just frustrated musicians. The long-term strategy - of eventually becoming a lawyer - was abandoned as he quickly became successful in music. He was helped a great deal by his work being picked up by Carmen Miranda.

Caymmi's last recorded work came four years ago; he died on Saturday following multiple organ failure.